As gas prices climb, Memorial Day travel expected to dip in Colorado

Gas prices in Boulder up 18 cents over last week

By Ryan Pinkard For the Camera

Posted:
05/23/2013 09:22:12 PM MDT

It's going to be another busy Memorial Day on the nation's highways, but AAA reports that road travel actually will be down within Colorado this weekend as gas prices continue to rise in Boulder and across the Front Range.

The average price for regular gasoline in Colorado is $3.82 per gallon, compared to $3.77 a year ago. This is above the current national average of $3.66, despite the fact that gas prices in Colorado generally tend to be lower than the country as a whole.

In Boulder, a gallon of unleaded gas costs, on average, $3.87 -- an 18-cent increase from a week ago and a 10-cent increase compared to the same time last year.

"With prices so high, we haven't noticed an increase in business (going into Memorial Day)," said Ataurahman Noor, co-owner of Boulder Gas. "We had more activity last year than we have had this year so far."

A survey conducted by AAA found that 62 percent of intended travelers said gasoline prices would have no impact on their holiday plans this Memorial Day weekend.

"We've found that people have had plans for Memorial Day for weeks, and they aren't going to change those plans because the price of gas goes up," said Wave Dreher, of AAA Colorado. "It's when someone is thinking about going up to the mountains at the last minute that they may choose to stay in town."

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In its annual Memorial Day report, AAA predicts 31.2 million Americans will drive 50 miles or more between Thursday and Monday. This is a slight increase over last year, though still well below the record 37.3 million travelers who hit the road in 2005.

Yet AAA Colorado is projecting a 0.6 percent decrease in holiday travelers in the state as compared to 2012. Of the 600,000 Coloradans traveling for Memorial Day, 528,000 are expected to travel by car.

Greg Harris, of Boulder, said he still finds driving cheaper than flying when there are several people in the car.

"Gas prices don't keep me from taking trips, but I try to limit my driving around town as much as possible," Harris said, "My Volvo takes premium and it really adds up."

Allie Quadraro said, "I stay in Boulder as much as possible because I can't afford to travel with gas prices as high as they are."

"My husband and I are more concerned with ecological issues than the price," said Linda Arnn, of Boulder. "More driving means more pollution. So when we plan a trip, that's the first questions we ask."

Randy Siebert said, "With my level of income, I often have to choose whether I eat or fill up the tank. When I have a job to get to like today, I have to borrow gas money from a friend before I get paid."

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